One week before Apple’s September 9 keynote, the first foldable iPhone is slowly stepping out of the shadows. In an interview with Tom’s Guide, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman shared a wave of new details about the device rumours call the iPhone Ultra: MagSafe charging will be present, the inner display will measure 7.8 inches, multitasking will borrow from the iPad, and the starting price should exceed 2,000 dollars. Here is what we know, and what it means for you.
MagSafe is in: the question that split the leaks is settled
This was one of the most debated points in recent weeks. Leaked renders and non-functional mock-ups, the so-called dummy units used by case manufacturers, showed no magnetic ring on the back of the device. Many concluded that the foldable iPhone would drop MagSafe, the system of circular magnets that lets you snap on a wireless charger, a car mount or a power bank.
Mark Gurman dismisses that idea outright. According to him, every indication he has gathered confirms that MagSafe is present on this foldable phone. The technical argument holds up. Apple already managed to fit the magnet array into the iPhone Air, its ultra-thin model, where internal space is measured in tenths of a millimetre. The iPhone Ultra is rumoured to be roughly 4.5 mm thick when unfolded: a comparable challenge, already solved once.
The stakes are not cosmetic. MagSafe determines access to an entire accessory ecosystem that iPhone owners have been building since 2020. A foldable without it would have forced buyers, already asked to spend a considerable sum, to replace their chargers and mounts.
Specifications: two displays, a reinforced hinge, a softened crease
Gurman confirms the format that has been circulating for months: a 5.5-inch cover display, usable with the phone closed, and a 7.8-inch flexible inner panel once the device is opened. This is a book-style foldable, in the same family as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold or Google’s Pixel Fold, rather than a clamshell.
On silicon, the journalist mentions “the latest Apple Pro chip and the latest Apple modem”. In other words, the iPhone Ultra would not be technologically second-tier: it would carry the same high-end processor as the iPhone 18 Pro models introduced on the same day, along with the in-house cellular modem Apple is gradually rolling out to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.
The central crease, the historic weak point of foldable displays, gets a nuanced answer. Gurman believes Apple has not made the mark disappear entirely, but that it is comparable to the latest Samsung foldables, and possibly slightly less visible. Credit would go to the hinge, described as particularly robust and paired with an amorphous metal alloy often referred to as liquid metal in leaks.
On that point, Apple’s internal requirement is said to be explicit: the foldable phone must be as durable, or nearly so, as any other iPhone. A significant share of the engineering work reportedly went into that durability, an area rivals took several generations to master. The device is also expected to settle for two rear cameras, a choice that is already drawing criticism from telephoto enthusiasts.
iOS 27: iPad-style multitasking arrives on a phone
Hardware is only half the story. A large unfolding display loses its point if the software simply shows one app, very large, in full screen. Apple appears to have understood this.
Gurman had already reported that iOS 27 would introduce iPad-inspired app layouts, with two applications displayed side by side. He now adds a new element: drag and drop will be supported between apps open at the same time. In practice, you will be able to drag a photo from your gallery into a conversation, or a snippet of text from a browser into an email, without going through the clipboard.
This is precisely the kind of feature that justifies a foldable. Galaxy Z Fold users know this convenience well, as Samsung has invested in it across several generations. Apple arrives late, but with an operating system already proven on tablets.
Price and availability: above 2,000 dollars, launching close to the iPhone 18 Pro
Asked about pricing, Gurman maintains the estimate he has defended for months: a starting price above 2,000 dollars. In the United States, that would make the iPhone Ultra the most expensive smartphone Apple has ever sold, far ahead of current Pro Max models. In Europe, currency conversion and taxation point to an entry ticket well above 2,000 euros, although no official price has been announced.
The timing question receives a more reassuring answer. Several rumours suggested the commercial release could slip to late October or even November because of supply difficulties. Gurman does not buy it. He says he would be very surprised if the foldable did not ship at the same time as the new Pro models, or very close to it: either a joint launch, or a release a few weeks later. He considers the idea of a massive delay unfounded.
The journalist sums up the device’s positioning bluntly: in his view this is the ultimate flex, the ultimate status-symbol phone, rather than a device anyone objectively needs.
What this changes for you
If you have been waiting for Apple to enter the foldable market before taking the plunge, three points deserve your attention.
- The budget. Above 2,000 dollars, the iPhone Ultra does not compete with entry-level Android foldables but with the most expensive devices on the market. Value has to be judged over several years.
- Accessory compatibility. MagSafe being present means your current wireless chargers, magnetic mounts and battery packs will remain usable. That is a real saving, often underestimated.
- The crease and the hinge. No manufacturer has fully eliminated the central mark. If the detail bothers you in a store, it will bother you in daily use. Wait for independent reviews before ordering.
Remember that none of this is official. Mark Gurman has a solid track record on Apple products, but his information remains leaked and can change before the announcement. The “Surprise and shine” keynote takes place on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, 6 p.m. in London, and will be streamed live.
Samsung’s foldable remains the benchmark for now
Until the September 9 verdict, the Galaxy Z Fold8 remains the main reference for the book-style format, and it is the device Gurman compares Apple’s crease to. If you would rather not wait, it is currently the most mature alternative.
Check the Galaxy Z Fold8 price on Amazon
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In short
The iPhone Ultra is shaping up as a technology showcase: MagSafe retained, a 7.8-inch inner display, a latest-generation Pro chip, a reinforced hinge and rethought multitasking in iOS 27. All for a price that will exceed 2,000 dollars. September 9 will bring official confirmation.
Would you spend more than 2,000 euros on a foldable iPhone, or would you rather wait for the second generation? Tell us in the comments.
Where to buy at the best price
Apple iPhone 18 Pro 256 Go
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